Mumbai (Maharashtra) , December 5 : The Maharashtra Government on Tuesday declared holiday in schools and colleges in Mumbai and adjoining areas as a precautionary measure against fast-approaching Cylcone Ockhi.

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde took to Twitter to make the announcement.

"Precautionary holiday declared on December 5 for schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurga, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts for the safety of students due to serious weather predictions on Cyclone Ockhi," he tweeted.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) met department, Mumbai will witness light to moderate rainfall in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Disaster Management unit of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an advisory against visiting the beaches today and tomorrow, as the cyclone is expected to hit the coast of Maharashtra within the next 48 hours.

Till date, the cyclone has claimed at least 20 lives with hundreds still missing after it made a landfall in Kerala on November 30.

Search and rescue operations in the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands continue and the Navy has deployed 10 naval ships and eight aircraft, round the clock service late last night for the ongoing rescue operations.